The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-09-15
IBattleboro Headlight. ]

Our highly esteemed neighbor the
Wilmington Messenger regrets that
the law was not permitted to take its
course, and mete out just punishment
to Eugene Hairston, the brute who was
lynched few days since at Greens
boro for committing a heinous crime
upon Miss Mahala Sapp. The pulpit,
the press, and all good people, do agree
that lynching is hateful, yea more, 1t Is
revolutionary in its character, but then
what shall we do? When the recent
lynching of five negroes in York coun
ty, South Carolina, was brought to the
notice OF Judge Presley, who was hold
ing court there, he said that it was
useless to try to bring the lynchers to
punish ment, and that he was unwilling
any longer to use the machinery of the
courts to enact farce, as such cases
had proved before.
We are no defenders of lynch law
be,, Sc, but before lynch law can be
done away with, there must be revo
luton in the administration of Justice
in North Carolina, more particularly.
When people see almost daily red
handed murderers and criminals of
high degree, by the aid of money, posi-
ton and influence, and through the
shrewdness and chicanery of lawyers
in building up all manner of defenses,
through legal technicalities, and lastly
by the help of conscienceless juries, go
free and unwhipped of justice, when
their guilt is clearly established, they
feel at once the unprotected condition
of society, and when a horrd crime
takes place, they have no assurance
that the courts will mete out justice to
the criminals, and they feel their only
security, their only safety, and their
only deense, is in rising up above the
forms of law, and executing vengeance
with their own hands.
We are no opologists Of lynch law,
but we do say that as long as the pres
ent condition of affairs remains with
reference to the administration of JUS
tice in North Carolina, lynChings may
be expected, for when the people of
community feel that the law affords
them no protection, they will rise above
the forms OF law, not in defiance Of it
and defend and protect themselves.
Who are to be blamed tor this? The
. people themselves Not altogether
, 'Fhe failure of Judges, lawyers, and
especially juries to do their sworn duty
, is the cause of the present condition
r of affairs in the State. The Judges are
too ready to grant bail, the lawyers
build up technical and false pleas of
5 defense and select juries to suit their
purposes, and the juries for lack of
! conscience or intelligence or both, fail
r to do their duty under their oaths.
, There is where the trouble lies. This
may appear to be a strong statement,
but it is fully sustained by the facts.
In many cases where conviction is
: had, appeal after appeal is taken upon
technical grounds only until the power
: of the court is exhausted, the criminals
SOCS llEC LII olllIA AcIcliCdp >.AoN'
7 mistrial after mistrial results until an
S acquittal upon shallow plea of de
ferse is obtained.
The principal of self-defense is in
herent in human nature, and as long
as the present state of things exists, one
, need not be surprised to hear of lynch
g ings from tilue to time. The people
| feel driven to it in their own defense.
+: Let Judges, lawyers and jurors do their
b duty like men and lynchingS in the
e old North State will cease.
y Indeed, it is not pleasant for us to
e write down such terrible indictment
II against our people and expose their
o Qcf0rmihes to the outside world but
E we would be false to our own manhood
s false to our profession as Journalist
e and false to our country were we 10
try to withhold or conceal the truth
h 1t is only by exposing to the broad
2 light of day, the evils from which We
: suffer, and the causes which produce
S them, that they can be remedled. 1hr
u We intend to do at all times.